² So ^(A)I congratulated the dead who are already dead, more than the living who are still living.

Isaiah’s Vision

6 In the year of ^(A)King Uzziah’s death ^(B)I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple.

¹⁹ but with precious ^(A)blood, as of a ^(B)lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

³ if you have ^(A)tasted ^[a](B)the kindness of the Lord.

As Living Stones

⁴ And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been ^(C)rejected by people, but is ^[b]choice and precious in the sight of God, ^5 (D)you also, as living stones, ^[c]are being built up as a ^(E)spiritual house for a holy ^(F)priesthood, to ^(G)offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

⁴ Through ^[a]these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent ^(A)promises, so that by them you may become ^(B)partakers of the divine nature, having ^(C)escaped the ^(D)corruption that is in ^(E)the world on account of lust.